Hello. My name is Stephany. I use to come her a lot when my mother was first diagnosed over 2 years ago. Now, I dont know where else to go. The people in here have been so kind and helpful, that you, my friends were the first people I thought to turn to. My mother was diagnosed with a SCC tumor in her gum that spread to her jaw bone. She had 3 surgeries and six weeks of daily radiation. After radiation, her health deteriorated and seh went from a size 18 or so to a size 4. She is unable to eat. She puts everything in a blender and is unable to even speak. She has fluid (infection) draining from her chin continuously. When the infection spread to her lip, she was referred to an infectious disease specialist who then referred her back to her ENT, who said that her tumor was likely back..And that the only way to diagnose it is to do a biopsy which would require a tracheatomy and would break her jaw bone. But the doctor also told her that even if the cancer was back, that there was nothing else that could be done. My mom is 65 years old and I refuse to accept that...isnt there something or some treatment out there..I would hate to watch her get worse than she is now...Has anyone ever heard of anyone with my moms cancer with a recurrence winning the fight against cancer? If so, that would give me hope....I welcome your emails or comments in here...I am willing to suggest anything to my mom at this point..But she is also very depressed..She has so much pain, she is on liquid morphine all day and pain meds..I almost think that the radiation did nothing for her, except make her worse.....I just dont know what to do at this point....God Bless you all....
Stephany

I'm just bumping you to the top. hope someone can help

Please do not accept what they are telling you. And get a second opinion, ASAP. You do not need to put your mothers life on a IF! I recently lost my mom to this, and i sometimes think if the doctors were better informed and we had went to a cancer center where we were not the ones trying to coordinate everything, it wouldve made a difference. Please do everything you can to make this happen. I know it's hard, I've been there. But you have to get this done.

Dear Stephany
I wish I had some words of wisdom to impart, if there is anything that can be done I am sure some of our members will tell you how to go about it.
Our thoughts are with you and your mum.

Marica

Dear Stephany,
You don't mention whether your mother was treated at a comprehensive cancer center or not. If you get a second opinion, which you definitely should (and a third opinion if necessary), make sure that you get these at a comprehensive cancer center. There is a listing of comprehensive cancer centeres elsewhere on the OCF web site.
Also, I don't understand why the doctors don't do a CT scan or some other imaging technology to see if there is an identifiable tumor that has returned. If they see something, they may be able to do a fine needle aspiration biopsy.
My thoughts and best wishes are with you and your mother. - Sheldon

Stephany,

I am sorry to hear the news about your mother. I know this past year has been so intense for you and your family. As suggested, I would scurry to a major comprehensive cancer center and get another opinion. Keep in mind, though, that with the radiatin your mother has already received, she may not have any options other than surgery and if the cancer is spreading, that surgery can keep getting more and more invasive.

With the outcome your mother's medical team has determined, it might be better at this point to get your mother into hospice care. They team that attends to her needs will be better equipped to keep her as comfortable as possible as well as help deal with some of the issues around this intense of a disease and diagnosis.

She may have to tell them she is not seeking further treatment while you get that part of her lfe managed. If treatment options arise in your second (or third) opinions, you can always change the course plus many doctors will work with you and tell hospice the treatment is intended to minimize pain and discomfort versus cure the patient. This type of palliative treatment is even allowed in hospice.

My last words are NEVER GIVE UP! As long as your mother is alive and wants to fight this horrible disease, be her advocate. Find what options are out there and push the medical folks towards that goal.

Again, I am sorry you are having to endure such an intense part of life.

Ed

sorry to hear of your struggle with your mums illness.my thoughts are with u please try and stay strong your mum needs you there is support out there for the asking.keep your chin up, god is good
god bless u . maz